LEONARDTOWN, Md. - The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) information for the 2006-2007 school year. St. Mary's County Public Schools reports that all elementary schools made the AYP requirements in both reading and mathematics. However, Spring Ridge, Leonardtown, and Esperanza Middle Schools failed to make AYP in one or more tested areas.

AYP measures student performance in reading and mathematics. Each year, MSDE sets AYP targets which school systems must achieve for all populations of students, including minorities, special education, poverty, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) students. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) expects all students to meet 100% proficiency by 2014.

George Washington Carver Elementary School made AYP for both reading and mathematics for the second consecutive year. As a result, George Washington Carver has exited the list of schools in need of improvement.

Green Holly Elementary School made AYP for both reading and mathematics, and as a result, they are no longer under local attention.

Lexington Park Elementary School made AYP for both reading and mathematics. Lexington Park Elementary will need to make AYP for an additional year to exit school improvement status.

Spring Ridge Middle School failed to make AYP in one tested area - their African American student group in mathematics. Spring Ridge Middle School is currently designated as a school in improvement.

Esperanza Middle School failed to make AYP for their Special Education student group in reading, and their African American and FARMS student groups in mathematics. This is the first year that Esperanza did not achieve AYP. They are now designated as a school under local attention.

Leonardtown Middle School failed to make AYP for their Special Education student group in reading. This is the first year that Leonardtown Middle did not achieve AYP. They are now designated as a school under local attention.

"We are confronting the challenges at our middle schools" said Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools. "I commissioned a Middle School Task Force that made recommendations to me in early spring. Those recommendations, which include additional teachers and instructional time in mathematics in grade seven, are being fully implemented this school year and were a budget priority."